A Letter About FX

I recently received this email in my mailbox. I thank you the sender of this letter for sharing his opinion on this matter:

----- LETTER ABOUT FX ---------------

I am a friend of FX's cousin and I have known him since he was orphaned 17 years ago. He had no wealth or power as the police told the media. Neither was he a spoiled scion of a prominent family. FX hated and feared guns and violence so it was unbelievable when the police claimed he had to be shot close range several times in the head because he had a sub-machine gun. ATROCIOUS LIE!

He would not even know how to operate a machine gun which my uncle said only the military has access to! (Thank God for the UNTV video that showed the guns were planted and thank God the police had to admit he never shot a gun.)

FX was gentle, caring, soft spoken, very unassuming and humble. He was good looking and dressed well -- and if not for that, you would not notice him as he would never push his way around or brag or be obnoxious. He was the "favorite uncle" as he was patient with the young children and was truly caring. He had many friends -- both rich and poor as he was "masyadong mabait" (very kind) and "marunong makisama" (gets along well with others easily).

On the evening of his death, he was on his way home from a quick trip to Starbucks and McDonald's (a burger and a night cap). He's was a considerate person, which is why he called his siblings to tell them of his whereabouts and that he's on his way home. (In fact, he only wore shorts and a t-shirt that evening.) He could have been your father, your brother, your uncle, your cousin or your best friend going out for a snack in Ortigas... then murdered... and to cover the murder, had to be branded as a carnapper.

So where can you go for justice in the Philippines? Not to the police or the military -- and definitely not the Dept of (In)Justice! You and your family will be harrassed, intimidated and killed. They may even brand you as a terrorist or an NPA that is a threat to the country. It is common now to read about the journalists, innocent farmers and ordinary civilians killed and branded as threats -- and we don't do anything about it. Instead, we accept the lies. Sana magising tayo sa katotohanan. (I wish we'll wake up to the truth.)

As you pointed out, they can produce FALSE WITNESSES until the sympathy of the TV/radio audience or newspapers will be prejudiced against you. They are in power and they can detroy you!

For Example:
Without even investigating, DILG head Angelo Reyes was quick to laud the handiwork of the TMG and pin a hero's medal on a policeman who witnesses say - his gun may have dropped and hurt him! (You are right in your blog: How could he produce a medal so soon? Do they have several in their pockets?) They can call murder a shoot-out even when the victims' car windows were all closed and a video shows them planting their evidence!

Even my uncle in Camp Crame said all the bullets came from the police. Please do not go to Angcanan or Lomibao for justice as they have to protect the murderers for the sake of the morale of their men! Isn't speaking the truth better than covered up lies for the morale of all men? Lastly, do not go to the head of the Dept of (IN)Justice who without even looking at the case from all sides smugly declared the TMG was justified -- it is okay to "kill dead men" but, oops... when they learned that FX Manzano's body was not cremated and could be exhumed, Angcanan had to confess he was still alive and could have been saved but his policemen considered him a threat and had to shoot him in the head several times.

Ten armed policemen against 3 hurt young men already peppered by 50 bullets! The TMG will not release their full report to the media and initially said it was incomplete because they had not yet interviewed the 10 policemen involved. As you said - what do you expect their report to say if the testimony of the murderers being investigated weighs more than the witnesses? How can the dead defend themselves - they were the ones branded guilty without an opportunity to prove their innocence!

But what would FX Manzano say to all of these blogs? He would say, "FORGIVE them as JUSTICE BELONGS TO THE LORD. If we cannot get justice on earth, we will get this in heaven." FX would say: "HAVE FAITH, TRUST GOD. He is in control. This does not make sense now but God has a plan - trust Him."

FX always taught the young children and his cousins to be patient, to be forgiving and let offenses slide off their shoulders as God does not approve of a bitter heart. Jesus forgave His enemies who said terrible lies about Him and then crucified Him. If we pray the OUR FATHER, we will not be forgiven our sins if we cannot FORGIVE the TMG hierarchy, the 10 policemen and the misguided in our society. We forgive these persons but we do not condone the sins they committed.

We need to speak the truth always and fight against injustice. Do not judge rashly the people condemned by the media or the government. Like FX, evidence against them may be planted and FALSE WITNESSES are easily brought up. Do not delay telling people you love them as you never know - they may just go for coffee or a burger and be killed and lost to you.

His sister bought two Bibles, one of which was placed in FX's casket and coincidentally both Bibles opened to Psalm 64 and they believe this is his message from the grave:

O God, hear my anguished voice; from the foes I dread protect my life.
Hide me from the malicious crowd, the mob of evildoers.
They sharpen their tongues like swords, ready their bows for arrows of poison words.
They shoot at the innocent from ambush, shoot without risk, catch them unawares.
They resolve on their wicked plan; they conspire to set snares; they say:
"Who will see us?"
They devise wicked schemes, conceal the schemes they devise; the designs of their hearts are hidden.
But God will shoot arrows at them and strike them unawares.
They will be brought down by their own tongues; all who see them will shake their heads.
Then all will fear and proclaim God's deed, pondering what has been done.
The just will rejoice and take refuge in the LORD; all the upright will glory in their God.